wchain
10-09-2006, 09:24 AM
Some of you remember my Gauge Swap Writeup a while back about changing to 'real' autometer gauges. Well, I have done it again, this time with the Ultra Lite IIs!
For those of you (like me) who have a hard time seeing at night, Autometer has the Ultra Lite IIs which look very similar to the Autometer Ultra Lites, but are totally awesome looking and easy to read at night! The display is backlit, as well as the needle!
These items are for sale on my website. And even if you get them from elsewhere, this will still be a good guide for you!!
I advise having solder, a soldering iron and some liquid electrical tape (optional), Wire dikes, and ring terminals or female spade connectors. Otherwise you'll need a dremel to hack up the back of your gauge pod.
Heres the step by step.
As stated before, I already have the Ultra Lite replacements, so I have ring terminals installed. The Ultra Lite IIs can accept ring terminals or Female Spade Connectors.
Step 1, turn key to first detent, apply parking brake and move shifter to 1.
http://images17.fotki.com/v349/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04738-vi.jpg
Pull at the edges of the pod and pull the pod out. The best way is when you pull the edges of the pod out in the rear, tilt downwards, causing the front of the pod to tilt upwards, wiggle around and the pod should come right out.
Step 2
Disconnect the wiring harnesses for the Oil, Volt and Cigarette Lighter
http://images19.fotki.com/v23/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04751-vi.jpg
Now take the pod with you somewhere where you can work.
Step 3.
Undo the retaining screws and pull the wiring harness back(i.e. away from the back of the gauge) to remove from the clip on the pod.
http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04743-vi.jpg
Now you can remove the gauge.
Here's a side by side comparison of the back of the gauges. The Autometer Ultra Lite II is on the right. Note the spade terminals for the illumination vs the hole for the light bulb on the Original Ultra Lite Gauge, as well as the addition of spade terminals on the Ground, Ignition and Sender posts.
http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04742-vi.jpg
Step 4.
You can cut the light bulb harness and put spade terminals on the wires for lighting, but you run out of room against the back of the pod when reinstalling the gauge. This is where you will have to use a dremel to cut a hole in the back of the pod where the gauge bolts in, otherwise the spade terminals will bump against it with 1/4" sticking out.
http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04746-vi.jpg
Instead, the best way is to strip the wires, solder them in and coat with liquid electrical tape, if desired.
http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04749-vi.jpg
Step 5
Do the oil pressure gauge and repeat for the Volt Meter. Reinstall both gauges with the thumbnuts and make sure the gauges are flush against the pod. Dont forget to reinstall the wiring harnesses to the light green retainers. again, pull away from the back of the gauge, and slide backwards towards the back of the gauge along the light green slide, until you hear a faint click.
Step 6
Reconnect the Cigarette Lighter, the Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges. Make sure you dont have any thumbprints or smudges on the pod/gauge faces and reinstall the pod.
Now, the new gauges are in, and the pod is back in place.
http://images19.fotki.com/v23/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04752-vi.jpg
Check illumination and functionality.
http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04754-vi.jpg
Ok, our soldering job was good, since the lights light up well.
Now to start her up!
http://images18.fotki.com/v17/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04755-vi.jpg
Lookin good!
Heres a pic of the Autometer "Real" Gauges
http://images16.fotki.com/v350/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04739-vi.jpg
Here's a shameless plug to my website where I sell the gauges.....
[shameless plug] http://innovativeinterceptors.com/intdress.html[/shameless plug]
For those of you (like me) who have a hard time seeing at night, Autometer has the Ultra Lite IIs which look very similar to the Autometer Ultra Lites, but are totally awesome looking and easy to read at night! The display is backlit, as well as the needle!
These items are for sale on my website. And even if you get them from elsewhere, this will still be a good guide for you!!
I advise having solder, a soldering iron and some liquid electrical tape (optional), Wire dikes, and ring terminals or female spade connectors. Otherwise you'll need a dremel to hack up the back of your gauge pod.
Heres the step by step.
As stated before, I already have the Ultra Lite replacements, so I have ring terminals installed. The Ultra Lite IIs can accept ring terminals or Female Spade Connectors.
Step 1, turn key to first detent, apply parking brake and move shifter to 1.
http://images17.fotki.com/v349/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04738-vi.jpg
Pull at the edges of the pod and pull the pod out. The best way is when you pull the edges of the pod out in the rear, tilt downwards, causing the front of the pod to tilt upwards, wiggle around and the pod should come right out.
Step 2
Disconnect the wiring harnesses for the Oil, Volt and Cigarette Lighter
http://images19.fotki.com/v23/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04751-vi.jpg
Now take the pod with you somewhere where you can work.
Step 3.
Undo the retaining screws and pull the wiring harness back(i.e. away from the back of the gauge) to remove from the clip on the pod.
http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04743-vi.jpg
Now you can remove the gauge.
Here's a side by side comparison of the back of the gauges. The Autometer Ultra Lite II is on the right. Note the spade terminals for the illumination vs the hole for the light bulb on the Original Ultra Lite Gauge, as well as the addition of spade terminals on the Ground, Ignition and Sender posts.
http://images19.fotki.com/v19/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04742-vi.jpg
Step 4.
You can cut the light bulb harness and put spade terminals on the wires for lighting, but you run out of room against the back of the pod when reinstalling the gauge. This is where you will have to use a dremel to cut a hole in the back of the pod where the gauge bolts in, otherwise the spade terminals will bump against it with 1/4" sticking out.
http://images16.fotki.com/v352/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04746-vi.jpg
Instead, the best way is to strip the wires, solder them in and coat with liquid electrical tape, if desired.
http://images18.fotki.com/v87/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04749-vi.jpg
Step 5
Do the oil pressure gauge and repeat for the Volt Meter. Reinstall both gauges with the thumbnuts and make sure the gauges are flush against the pod. Dont forget to reinstall the wiring harnesses to the light green retainers. again, pull away from the back of the gauge, and slide backwards towards the back of the gauge along the light green slide, until you hear a faint click.
Step 6
Reconnect the Cigarette Lighter, the Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges. Make sure you dont have any thumbprints or smudges on the pod/gauge faces and reinstall the pod.
Now, the new gauges are in, and the pod is back in place.
http://images19.fotki.com/v23/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04752-vi.jpg
Check illumination and functionality.
http://images16.fotki.com/v351/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04754-vi.jpg
Ok, our soldering job was good, since the lights light up well.
Now to start her up!
http://images18.fotki.com/v17/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04755-vi.jpg
Lookin good!
Heres a pic of the Autometer "Real" Gauges
http://images16.fotki.com/v350/photos/4/41821/223357/DSC04739-vi.jpg
Here's a shameless plug to my website where I sell the gauges.....
[shameless plug] http://innovativeinterceptors.com/intdress.html[/shameless plug]